Welcome To…
If you’re here, reading this, you don’t need
me to tell you how fortunate you are.
There are many festivals in and out of
Europe, but there continues to only be one
Roadburn, and Roadburn 2016 is already
alive with everything that makes it so
special.
Did you see Jucifer last night? Have you
walked down the stretch of Weirdo
Canyon on Heuvelstraat and seen your
fellow Roadburners laughing, enjoying a
beverage or some lunch? Did you find that
record in the merch area? Have you had
your mind blown by something you never
knew you were dying to see? If not, you
will. Of all the unexpected things every
Roadburn brings, you can expect that.
Whatever venues you hit, whatever
bands you see, whatever you eat, drink,
smoke, etc., you’re taking part in a
ritual that has only become more sacred
with time, and an art project in the
making. This entire festival is like a
painting, or an album, being made
with all of us here.
Your participation is a part of the
creativity of the entire experience, and
it doesn’t matter who or what you’re
here for, you’re in this community from
the moment it starts today until the big
comedown Monday morning.
But forget about that for now. Leave
reality behind for a couple days and
immerse yourself in this mammoth
undertaking. Here at the Weirdo
Canyon Dispatch, we’ll be bringing
you daily reviews and highlights of
Roadburn 2016, picks for each day, a
special on the new 013 Poppodium and
a lot more, so please stay tuned. On
behalf of myself and the rest of the
WCD staff, we
wish you a pleasant journey.
- JJ Koczan
Welcome To A Brand New 013
The 013 has changed and it’s a change of
the good kind. Are you a regular visitor of
the venue for your yearly dose of
Roadburn? Well, the changes are good,
but you might need a moment to find your
way around.
The main reasons for all the reconstruction
are two-fold. The first is to offer more
comfort for the visitors. The 013 was one
of the first real concert venues in the
Netherlands and was made for the
demands at the time. Time for an upgrade!
The second has to do with size. The
capacity of the two stages made it hard to
book bands that would draw a crowd that
fell in between the two (say 600/700
visitors). The bookers had to skip a lot of
offers because of that.
So what has changed? Well, the entrance
has been moved 20 meters, the same goes
for the smaller stage. But let’s start with
the Main Stage. Its increased in size and
is equipped with an extra side exit on the
left.
There are more toilets, bars and a
smoking room at the end of the hall.
No more adventures and missing half
the set in finding your way around the
venue - though you’re still free to do
so. The capacity of the Main Stage has
been increased from 2,000 to a
maximum of 3,000 visitors. Flexibility
is created by using curtains and
movable walls. The staff can easily
change the capacity to 2,300 or even
1,400 visitors, depending on the
demands and sales for a specific show.
Remember the old smoking room in
the lobby outside the Main Stage?
There you’ll find the entrance to the
Green Room, which has now doubled
in size and instead of 325, it now has
the capacity for 700. On the balcony
there’s a new bar. The stage has some
more height, so it feels a lot bigger.
That’s the new 013 for you.
You might think I’ve glossed over
something, but unfortunately the
Stage01 (aka the Bat Cave) is no more.
That’s the extra bit of balcony for the
Jupiler Stage, so you’ll be stepping into
some other venues for the small shows.
It’s a shift in the Roadburn experience,
but if you’ve been here before or if
you’ve watched from afar in years past,
you know that change and expansion
are essential to the process. - Guido
Segers
Hardrock Hideout Review Jucifer / Bang / The Skull @ Cul de Sac, Tilburg 13/04/2016
With classic rockers Bang, doom
purveyors The Skull, and extreme
rock/metal powerhouse Jucifer
stacking the bill, 2016's Hardrock
Hideout was arguably the festival's
strongest to date, representing three
distinct sounds. Loyal 'Burners
congregated in and outside the Cul de
Sac, Roadburn 2016 started off with a
bang, or rather, with Bang.
The reunited Philly rockers were slated
to make their Euro debut Thursday,
which made the recent announcement
they would be playing HRH even more
exciting. Despite jetlag the power trio
of vocalist/bassist Frank Ferrara,
guitarist Frankie Gilcken and drummer
Jake Leger locked things down in tight
groove through the end of a set that
included a killer rendition of their
number-two in Hong Kong hit
"Questions."
Intensity started to ramp up with The
Skull. Comprised of vocalist Eric
Wagner and bassist Ron Holzner,
alums of Chicago doom pioneers
Trouble, along with members of
Pentagram and Witch Mountain,
among others, the five-piece tore
through songs off of their debut, For
Those Which Are Asleep, and Trouble
classics including "Bastards Will Pay"
and "Assassin." Clearly a crowd
favorite. Cul de Sac filled up to near
clown car-capacity as the band gave a
taste of what's to come in their two
upcoming weekend appearances.
Jucifer's aural savagery came across
like an massive alien attack as the
nomadic duo of frontwoman Amber
and drummer Edgar cast the first notes
of their headlining set. They had a more
compact backline than I'd seen (how do
you get 27 amps across the Atlantic
anyway?), the stripped-down approach
only enhanced the raw feel of their
music, which ranged from squalling
grind to cavernous, apocalyptic doom.
Through it all, the packed house
banged their heads beat-by-beat to
every last ounce of Jucifer's brutal
thunder.
The crowd gradually dispersed as Hard
Rock Hideout reached its natural
conclusion, though drinks,
conversation, and a party-friendly,
genre-bending DJ set from Bidi van
Drongelen kept many there past last
call. Feel the 'Burn, everyone, and
enjoy your time at the best rock festival
in the world! — Jamie Ludwig
Thursday 14th Daily Picks
Ben Handelman - HELL: If you catch one band on Thursday, let it be Hell from
Salem, Oregon. If the haunting opening chords of “Mourn” don’t give you
goosebumps, their ferocious hybrid of blackened doom will force you to lower
your head under the sheer weight of their sound.
Kim Kelly - It goes without saying that there are tons of incredible bands playing
today (shouts to Usnea, Hexvessel, HELL, The Body, Inverloch, and the Icelandic
killers in Misþyrming and Naðra) but CHRCH and Abyssion are definitely the
ones I'm most excited to see - the former because they've made such considerable
strides since I saw them opening up for YOB in CHRCH's home city of
Sacramento, and the latter because I've got a feeling it's going to be batshit insane
and very, very interesting. If you dig either weirdo Finnish pitch-black psychedelia,
or addictive, proggy doom that's heavier than God, you're going to want to catch
these two.
Lee Edwards - If it’s at all possible to even get into Extase (a new venue for
Roadburn 2016) as the witching hour approaches on the first night, then CHRCH
are a must see. Their debut, Unanswered Hymns, completely destroyed my senses
with its tortured, although somehow psychedelic, take on doom and to witness the
live ritual could be the most grueling, yet euphoric set of the Thursday.
Dom Lawson - The Poisoned Glass: If G. Stuart Dahlquist is making bowels rattle,
I’m there. If their live show matches the mind-expanding rush of new album 10
Swords then this will be truly monumental.
Jamie Ludwig - The first time I dug into Unanswered Hymns, the debut record
from California’s CHRCH, I was handed a note that warned me I’d go to hell if I
didn’t accept “the church” into my life. Coincidence or not? In any case, these
doomy newcomers made a convert out of me and I’m all set for their midnight(ish)
mass. Also, I’m not missing the psychedelic blackness of Oranssi Pazuzu, whose
latest album, Värähtelijä, has been blowing my mind on the reg these days.
Sander van den Driesche - There will be some memorable performances
happening today, but I’m looking forward the most to seeing Cult of Luna play
their epic classic Somewhere Along the Highway in full, which is going to be
absolutely fantastic. Oranssi Pazuzu is one of the bands I’ve not seen before and
based on their latest release, Värähtelijä, which is arguably their best, this is
another show I definitely won’t miss.
Thursday 14th Daily Picks
Alex Mysteerie - Hexvessel: Just dying to sing along to the wonderful new
material while being swept away by cosmic love! That’ll make it my third HXVSL
Roadburn gig: awesome. Abyssion and Oranssi Pazuzu as well. They both topped
my end-of-year playlists of recent years: delirious expectations!
Walter Roadburn - Abysmal Grief (Het Patronaat): Italy's Abysmal Grief are
utterly unique in my book - they'll bring the true Italian dark sound to Roadburn
2016, recalling occult rites and the horror and suspense of the more obscure Giallo
cinematic frighteners. Bang (Het Patronaat): Unsung heroes of the heavy ‘70s,
Bang are ready to rock Europe for the first time ever. Their classic, heavy grooves
are truly timeless. Though their Roadburn appearance is long overdue, I simply
can't wait.
Paul Robertson - The Poisoned Glass: The first band of the festival is also both
my first pick of the day AND my number one must-see for the entire shebang!
Burning Witch banshee Edgy 59 joins forces with former bandmate and Asva head-
honcho Stuart Dahlquist to scare the bejesus out of us using haunted organs,
unearthly voices and liberal applications of bass. What's not to like? Behold! The
Monolith: Been a big fan of these fellas since the first EP and after the tragic
passing of frontman Kevin McDade in 2013, I figured I'd never get to watch them
play, for obvious reasons. Fast forward three years, add in a pair of new band
members and a killer new album and you'd better believe I'm excited to finally see
them!
José Carlos Santos - The Poisoned Glass: Seeing Stuart Dahlquist and Edgy59
together again would be reason enough already, but their album, 10 Swords, is by
far my favourite of 2016 so far, so this is totally unmissable. Behold! The
Monolith too. Just a couple of years ago I was sharing some beers with guitarist
Matt Price at Roadburn telling him he'd play there soon, and finally it's
happening. Prepare for some ripping sludgy tunes and blunt force doom to be
thrown at you! Behold! The Monolith too. Just a couple of years ago I was
sharing some beers with guitarist Matt Price at Roadburn telling him he'd play
there soon, and finally it's happening. Prepare for some ripping sludgy tunes and
blunt force doom to be thrown at you!
Andreas Kohl - The Poisoned Glass: I’ll be there, early in the day, front row to
worship the incredible bass playing of Stuart Dahlquvist and his beautiful Acoustic
rig. Stuart hasn’t played Europe since the ASVA’s heyday and it’s well about time
if you ask me.
Guido Segers
I’ll do two, can I do three? I will not miss Converge playing Jane Doe integrally,
because it’s the most harrowing, intense thing to ever come out of the hardcore scene.
For the more black and bleak the Patronaat is the place to be. Oranssi Pazuzu and
Misþyrming are bands that reshape the sound of black metal and therefore essential
in my plan.
Paul Verhagen - Oranssi Pazuzu: Blown towards oblivion by these Finns in 2012.
Repeat!
Editor’s Choice – Thursday
Main Stage: Hexvessel I’m not about to take anything away from Paradise Lost playing Gothic in full. Not
at all. Or Converge playing Jane Doe. Or The Skull. Or Black Mountain. And while
I know Finnish folkies-done-lost-their-minds Hexvessel will be doing a special set
with Arktau Eos tomorrow at Het Patronaat, they’re my absolute gotta-see pick for
today on the Main Stage. If you’ve heard their recently-released third album and
Century Media debut, When We are Death, you probably don’t have to ask why. It’s
the songs.
Led by frontman Mat McNerney, the band have transcended their folkish roots as
shown on their first two outings – the first of which, Dawnbearer, will be a focus in
that Arktau Eos set tomorrow – and moved into a stylistically amorphous progressive
rock, but they’ve done it on a foundation of death-obsessed near-goth hooks so
powerful that they’ve made When We are Death one of the year’s best records. Just
keeping my fingers crossed they break out “Mushroom Spirit Doors.”
Elsewhere: CHRCH @ Extase Last year, Sacramento five-piece CHRCH (formerly just Church) burst into the
underground consciousness with Unanswered Hymns, a debut album so
resoundingly weighted that it seemed near impossible for it also to be as
psychedelic as it was. Think Primitive Man and Roadburn mainstays YOB together
somehow and you have a decent starting point. Battleground Records picked up
the record for a vinyl release, and the response has only continued to grow louder
as the months have gone on.
As with any given day at any given Roadburn, there’s an awful lot going on, with
Gomer Pyle, Zone Six and New Keepers of the Water Towers at Cul de Sac,
Misþyrming starting their weekend-long residency at Het Patronaat alongside Der
Blutharsch and the Infinite Church of the Leading Hand and The Poisoned Glass,
as well as The Body, Bang, Behold! the Monolith and Full of Hell in the revamped
Green Room, but damnit, if I don’t see CHRCH today, I don’t know how I’ll be
able to forgive myself. I mean that. – JJ Koczan
Top 5 Roadburn Life Goals Sander van den Driesche 1. Eat chips with satay sauce with Becky.
2. Meet all the bloggers I’ve known online for a while now face to face for the
first time.
3. Trying to stay awake.
4. Count at least 100 Bongripper back patches.
5. Finally seeing Neurosis live.
Top 5 Roadburn Life Goals Jamie Ludwig
1. Attain the superpower to be five places at once so I can catch all the bands, panels,
and art I can handle and still have more than enough time to hang with old friends /
meet new ones.
2. Jetlag Free Roadburn.
3. More Circle.
4. Convince 013 bar staff of the amazingness of beverages with multiple ice cubes
and/or limes.
5. The great George Carlin once said, "...eventually your music will help put an end
to war and poverty. It will align the planets and bring them into universal harmony,
allowing meaningful contact with all forms of life from extraterrestrials to common
household pets. And, it's excellent for dancing." Let’s make this happen!
Ben Handelman 1. Drink as much great European beer as possible without it impacting my show
experience.
2. Interview at least one musician a day at each Roadburn.
3. Learn how to be at peace with missing one amazing band in order to see another.
4. Never miss a year, starting this year.
5. Become enough of a cultural force to have my own metal and beer panel at
Roadburn 2026.
Andreas Kohl
1. With Diamanda Galás and Blind Idiot God this year and Fields of the Nephilim
last year, three of my Roadburn Life Goals have been fulfilled already, HA. There’s
only one “further out” band I would love to see on Roadburn and they go by the name
DÄLEK. Having them on my favourite festival would be something and I can
honestly call this a life goal.
2. One Roadburn-related life goal will undergo a test again this year and I know
already I will fail: surviving the five days without a single visit to the chicken grill.
For whatever reason, I know it’s not healthy. I would never eat the greasy pieces on
a normal day at home but there must be something in the Tilburg air that keeps calling
you in there at three in the morning for a big pile and the stones in the stomach
thereafter.
3. Not really a life goal but something Roadburn teaches me every year is dedication
and enthusiasm in a way and weight that carries me over almost one year. While
personal preferences change as much as attitudes and approach to life in general,
Roadburn seems to remain a constant rock in the whitewater of life. May it remain
so.
Top 5 Roadburn Life Goals Paul Robertson
1. To manage JUST ONCE to keep out of the pub and see all of the bands I
actually want to see in a day.
2. To never again have to watch a band from inside Alan Averill's armpit.
3. To stay in a nice hotel and eat well JUST ONCE. Please.
4. To actually play the festival again and not make a pig's ear of it next time.
5. To finally make it to The Little Devil.
Dom Lawson
1. Smoke more weed
2. Drink more beer
3. Be less antisocial (NB: may clash with #1)
4. Get a selfie with Repulsion
5. Smoke more weed
Alex Mysteerie
1. Meeting up with nice people I only seem to see at RB.
2. Acquiring the magic gift of ubiquity.
3. Working towards the dream becoming a Tilburg resident.
4. Pillaging the handmade chocolates shop and eating Italian pizza.
5. Waking up in time to wolf down the entire Mercure breakfast buffet.
Guido Segers 1. Meeting all the nationalities present on Roadburn.
2. Getting to see Greenland band Sumé play a live show in Tilburg.
3. Seeing everything I want to see.
4. Writing for the Weirdo Canyon Dispatch.
5. Seeing Kyuss reunite and play a show at Roadburn.
Kim Kelly
1. Convince Walter to book Dolly Parton (what, a girl can dream!).
2. Remember to bring earplugs (for once).
3. Make a point of attending more Cul de Sac shows and side programming
events - there's always something magical going on there.
4. Make it through an entire Roadburn without succumbing to the siren song of
Karnak's spicy chicken wings (ain't gonna happen).
5. Get some fucking sleep whilst I'm here (also never gonna happen!).
Editorial
Editor: JJ Koczan (The Obelisk)
Technical Editor: Lee Edwards (The Sleeping Shaman)
Artwork: Cavum
Photography: Paul Verhagen (Achrome Moments)
Cartoon: Maciej Kamuda & Dominik Stachyra (Drawn Too Late)
Special Thanks: Wendy Wright
Contributors:
Alex Mysteerie, Andreas Kohl, Ben Handelman, Dom Lawson, Guido Segers,
Jamie Ludwig, José Carlos Santos, Kim Kelly, Paul Robertson, Sander van den
Driesche, Walter Hoeijmakers